OF the 10 charges of dangerous driving brought against a 24-year-old motorist from Durrus, six were withdrawn by the state, two were adjourned for a probation report, and a €500 fine and two-year disqualification were imposed in respect of each of the two remaining charges.

In mitigation, defence solicitor Flor Murphy said the charges brought against his client, Edward Ryan of Chapel Rock, Durrus, all related to 'a single incident' on the night of August 16th last.

The solicitor told Judge Joanne Carroll at Bantry District Court that his client has no previous convictions, and he likened his behaviour, in driving away from the garda patrol car, as 'a light switch going out.'

Court presenter, Sgt Trish O'Sullivan, outlined the facts of the case saying the driver of the patrol car came across the accused's black Toyota Auris parked in an unusual manner.

'Just as the garda pulled up the accused took off at speed,' she said. 'The gardaí activated the blue lights, but the accused took evasive action, so they followed the driver and his passenger.'

Outlining the dangerous nature of his driving, Sgt O'Sullivan said the accused crossed a continuous white line as he approached Durrus village and went over a speed ramp in the main street at a speed that was 'too high.'

The sergeant said there were people walking through the village at the time. And she outlined how the gardaí continued to follow the driver, with the blue light flashing, in an effort to get him to stop but he kept going.

The court presenter said the accused drove through the various townlands 'at a speed that was too high for the roads,' crossed another white line, and did not stop at a junction.

The sergeant said she did not have a record of the speed at which the gardaí were travelling behind the accused, but told the court that they decided to turn back and deal with the accused, who was known to them, at a later stage.

Sgt O'Sullivan acknowledged that the accused has no previous convictions and she said the state was proceeding with four of the 10 charges, and was agreeing to withdraw six.

Appealing for leniency, Mr Murphy said his client is employed with a traffic management company, has a full driver's licence, and is fully insured.

As for his driving, the solicitor said he had no good excuse other than he had been out fishing earlier that day and just took off when he saw the patrol car.

Mr Murphy said the entire incident covered a distance of five miles, including the village, and the country roads which are not governed by continuous white lines. But he admitted that his client did drive through a junction at the Letterlickey townland.

The solicitor explained to the court that his client got a flat tyre and walked home that night. And, the following morning, he went with his father to the garda station to 'own up.'

Mr Murphy said there was no attempt to evade detection because he knew the local garda and the garda knew him, so he was willing to 'face the music.' In mitigation, the solicitor also pointed out that he has a very good work ethic and had apologised to the gardaí for his driving.

Judge Carroll said motorists must respect their driving licences, and when a member of the gardaí approaches a vehicle, citizens are obliged to cooperate.

She said the gardaí stopped following the accused that night because they made an assumption they would be putting more people at risk because he might increase his speed.

Judge Carroll said she had no option but to impose a mandatory two-year disqualification in respect of his driving at Clashadoo and Letterlickey East, but she postponed the commencement of the disqualification to January 15th.

The two remaining charges were adjourned to the March 26th sitting of Bantry District Court to allow time for the production of a probation report.

The judge said the accused could consider himself lucky that he wasn't going to jail having 'soaked up garda time by going on a wild chase through West Cork.

'This was a very serious case of dangerous driving,' the judge added before imposing two €500 fines on the accused.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.